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Which footballer made the biggest leap in competitive levels between games? | The Knowledge

Plus: worst penalty shootouts, poachers turned gamekeepers … and footballers donating antiques?! Mail us with your all of your questions and answers “Malachi Fagan-Walcott’s final game of last season was for York City against Rochdale in the National League. His first competitive game of 2026-27 season was for Hearts against Sturm Graz in a Champions League qualifier. Has a player ever made a bigger leap in competitive levels between consecutive club games?” asks Tom Reed. Does a jump from the Welsh League to the FA Cup count as a bigger leap? Probably not, but this was an FA Cup semi-final, rather than a Champions League qualifier, and it’s a cracking yarn regardless. “I’ll nominate Gary Plumley ,” writes Russell Connor. “Gary made almost 200 appearances for Newport County in four separate spells over the course of a decade but by 1987 he had effectively retired and was running a wine bar while making occasional appearances for Ebbw Vale in the Welsh League. Steve Baines, the only referee in the English professional leagues to have had significant experience as a player . Dick Jol, who refereed the 2001 Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Valencia. Ben Haverkort , who as a player received 73 yellow cards and six reds, many for verbally abusing referees. Continue reading...

Vinícius Júnior to Arsenal doesn’t make sense. That’s why it may work | Jonathan Wilson

Mikel Arteta’s team and the Brazilian star could be a perfect match. It also could be a risk that ends in disaster Sometimes what is needed is something different. There is a long history in football of counterintuitive thinking being successful, of the benefits of creative tension, of adding grit to the oyster to generate the pearl, but even so, the news that talks between Vinícius Júnior and Arsenal on personal terms are progressing comes as something of a shock. Mikel Arteta’s great followers of a blueprint adding a free spirit like the Brazilian? Really? This is an extract from Soccer Desk, a newsletter from the Guardian. Subscribe for free here. Continue reading...

Just under a month to go....what your PL club still needs to do in summer window

J.J. Watt lives up to 'Milk Man' nickname as he delivers Burnley's new kit

J.J. Watt has boosted Burnley's profile since he became a minority shareholder in the English soccer team, but even he can't have imagined he'd end up delivering milk around the town.

🏆 World Cup 2030: Way-Too-Early Power Ranks

The 2026 World Cup is over, and we're already itching to look ahead to 2030. So, we asked our reporters to vote for the top teams they expect to contend in four years' time. Who made the cut?

One month to go....what your PL club still needs to do in summer window

Four reasons why Fifa's World Cup plan never stacked up

The actual presentation of FIFA's plan to part-privatise the World Cup raises many more questions than it answers.

Vozinha gets jersey approval amid delayed arrival

Vozinha, the breakout Cape Verde goalkeeper who rose to global fame during the World Cup, will be allowed to display his nickname on his jersey when he joins Chilean football.

Stones sets out his Inter ambitions: ‘Hungry to win again’

John Stones has spoken of his pride and excitement after completing his move to Inter,...

Bee-utiful! Haaland unveils Man City's new 2026-27 away kit

You could say that there is already plenty of buzz surrounding Manchester City's new away kit -- if you'll excuse the woeful pun.

The Premier League clubs fighting a World Cup hangover

Which Premier League clubs have carried the biggest World Cup workload?

Have World Cup withdrawal? Enjoy the greatest kits in the tournament's history

The 2026 World Cup has come and gone, so after seeing all 48 teams' kits on the pitch, how many of them made our list of the best in competition history?

👕 Unusual inspiration behind Liverpool away kit

Much like this season's home kit, Liverpool have gone back to the glory days of the 1980s in search of inspiration for their 2026-27 away jersey.

DJ Erling Haaland? How the Man City star is enjoying his summer

Haaland has used his post-World Cup break lapping up the sun and keeping the internet meme-machine fed.

Grealish misses Man City tour despite training return

Jack Grealish will not make his return in a Manchester City shirt after being left out of the club's pre-season tour of Asia as he continues to recover from a foot injury.

Why Chelsea want to sign older players

Chelsea are targeting deals for Maxence Lacroix, Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck - three experienced heads, in an age when the focus has been on youth.

Ranking all 23 World Cups from worst to best... wh...

Spain's romp to victory in 2026 capped a brilliant World Cup. But where did this summer rank in the all-time record?

Maresca's Man City vow: I am not a 'copy and paste' coach

Enzo Maresca has vowed not to be a "copy and paste" coach in his first press conference since succeeding Pep Guardiola as Man City manager.